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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Role of Pope and Bishops in the Church	Leander	Friday, February 1, 2013
Question: Hello, I have two questions: 1) Is the pope understood by the Church to be “the (Supreme) Bishop of the Church” or the “Bishop of Bishops”, or does it understand his role as being one of an “authoritative primate”? 2) Strictly speaking, does the bishop have an independent jurisdiction over his local diocese/congregation--in other words, is the bishop more than a mere delegate of the Pope? Thanking you in advance, Leander p.s. For some reason, I cannot currently view the "Faith and Spirituality" section. Is this a problem on my part, or is there currently a problem with the website? Thanks again.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD Dear Leander: The Pope is the Supreme Pontiff, the Supreme pastor over the whole Church. He is the Vicar of Jesus Christ, that is, the Prime Minister for King Jesus. That position is universal, it extends over the whole Church throughout the planet. The Pope's official titles are: Bishop of Rome Vicar of Jesus Christ Successor of the Prince of the Apostles Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church Primate of Italy Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province Sovereign of the State of Vatican City Servant of the Servants of God. Bishops receive their authority directly from God, not from the Pope, and are, the "popes" of their diocese. They are not a mere delegate of the pope. While this is the case, the Bishops must remain in communion with the Pope at all times. The Old Catholic Encyclopedia states: Bishop is the title of an ecclesiastical dignitary who possesses the fullness of the priesthood to rule a diocese as its chief pastor, in due submission to the primacy of the pope. It is of Catholic faith that bishops are of Divine institution. In the hierarchy of order they possess powers superior to those of priests and deacons; in the hierarchy of jurisdiction, by Christ's will, the are appointed for the government of one portion of the faithful of the Church, under the direction and authority of the sovereign pontiff, who can determine and restrain their powers, but, not annihilate them. They are the successors of the Apostles, though they do not possess all the prerogatives of the latter. (Council of Trent, Sess. XXIII, ch. iv; can. vi, vii.) The episcopate is monarchical. By the Will of Christ, the supreme authority in a diocese does not belong to a college of priests or of bishops, but it resides in the single personality of the chief. See the full article for details on the powers and jurisdiction of a Bishop who must exercise those powers in "due submission to the primacy of the pope." Also see the Encyclopedia article, The Pope. Also see the Catechism paragraphs 880-896. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Role of Pope and Bishops in the Church

Leander

Friday, February 1, 2013

Question:

Hello,

I have two questions:

1) Is the pope understood by the Church to be “the (Supreme) Bishop of the Church” or the “Bishop of Bishops”, or does it understand his role as being one of an “authoritative primate”?

2) Strictly speaking, does the bishop have an independent jurisdiction over his local diocese/congregation--in other words, is the bishop more than a mere delegate of the Pope?

Thanking you in advance,

Leander

p.s. For some reason, I cannot currently view the "Faith and Spirituality" section. Is this a problem on my part, or is there currently a problem with the website? Thanks again.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD

Dear Leander:

The Pope is the Supreme Pontiff, the Supreme pastor over the whole Church. He is the Vicar of Jesus Christ, that is, the Prime Minister for King Jesus. That position is universal, it extends over the whole Church throughout the planet.

The Pope's official titles are:

Bishop of Rome
Vicar of Jesus Christ
Successor of the Prince of the Apostles
Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church
Primate of Italy
Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province
Sovereign of the State of Vatican City
Servant of the Servants of God.

Bishops receive their authority directly from God, not from the Pope, and are, the "popes" of their diocese. They are not a mere delegate of the pope. While this is the case, the Bishops must remain in communion with the Pope at all times.

The Old Catholic Encyclopedia states:

Bishop is the title of an ecclesiastical dignitary who possesses the fullness of the priesthood to rule a diocese as its chief pastor, in due submission to the primacy of the pope.

It is of Catholic faith that bishops are of Divine institution. In the hierarchy of order they possess powers superior to those of priests and deacons; in the hierarchy of jurisdiction, by Christ's will, the are appointed for the government of one portion of the faithful of the Church, under the direction and authority of the sovereign pontiff, who can determine and restrain their powers, but, not annihilate them. They are the successors of the Apostles, though they do not possess all the prerogatives of the latter. (Council of Trent, Sess. XXIII, ch. iv; can. vi, vii.) The episcopate is monarchical. By the Will of Christ, the supreme authority in a diocese does not belong to a college of priests or of bishops, but it resides in the single personality of the chief.

See the full article for details on the powers and jurisdiction of a Bishop who must exercise those powers in "due submission to the primacy of the pope." Also see the Encyclopedia article, The Pope. Also see the Catechism paragraphs 880-896.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum